Anne Dauphinais (born 1960) is an American politician. She is a Republican currently serving Connecticut House of Representatives District 44, comprising the towns of Killingly, Plainfield, and Sterling. Dauphinais grew up in Killingly and graduated from the Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute and from Eastern Connecticut State University. She worked in nursing, sales, and for the Connecticut Department of Correction before being elected to the House in 2016, 2018 and 2020. Beginning in 2019, Dauphinais was a prominent leader opposing vaccine legislation in Connecticut and later protesting public safety measures put in place to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anne Dauphinais | |
|---|---|
 Dauphinais at the 2022 Hazlitt Summit hosted by Young Americans for Liberty Foundation | |
| Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 44th district | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Christine Rosati Randall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Killingly, Connecticut |
| Political party | Republican |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (Alliance) |
| Spouse | Dale Dauphinais |
| Alma mater | Eastern Connecticut State University (BA) |
| Website | www |
Early life and career
editDauphinais was born in 1960[1] and grew up in Killingly. She attended Eastern Connecticut State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in sociology, and she graduated from Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institution's nursing program in 1986.[2]
Dauphinais worked as a nurse, as a pre-release case manager for the Connecticut Department of Correction, and as a sales consultant for Novartis.[2][1]
Political career
editDauphinais first ran for the House District 44 seat in 2016. She defeated incumbent Democrat Christine Rosati Randall 60%-40%.[1][3] She faced Randall again in both 2018 and 2020 and won with very similar margins. In 2022, she defeated Randall's husband, David, again by a similar margin. [4]
She is a member of the Connecticut General Assembly Conservative Caucus.[5]
Opposition to COVID measures
edit
On September 2, 2020, the Connecticut House Republican caucus gathered at a press conference at the Connecticut state capitol to express opposition to Governor Ned Lamont's emergency COVID-19 orders. Dauphinais was the only caucus member to appear without a face mask. She told reporters that she "believes wearing a mask should be voluntary" and was doubtful of their effectiveness against preventing the spread of COVID-19.[6]
Dauphinais organized and spoke at a rally the next day where participants called for an end to Lamont's emergency orders. The event drew around 100 participants.[7][8]
Vaccine exemptions
editDauphinais was a leader of the opposition to HB #6423, a 2021 bill that sought to eliminate religious exemptions to childhood vaccinations for children attending school in Connecticut.[9] In March 2019, she helped bring prominent anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to a rally at the Connecticut State House where he presented information questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines.[5] In April 2019, Dauphinais helped collect signatures for a letter to Connecticut Attorney General William Tong claiming the new vaccine law would be a violation of citizens' rights.[10] She also joined four legislative colleagues on a July 30, 2019 letter to Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Renee Coleman-Mitchell urging her not to take a stand on the issue. The letter claimed that the bill in question was "a question of constitutional and civil rights law" and that it was therefore not in the purview of the Department of Public Health to support it.[5]
Dauphinais also spoke at a 2021 rally against the vaccine bill prior to its consideration in the House.[11]
Personal life
editDauphinais has four children, including a daughter she describes as a "special needs adult,"[12] and four grandchildren. She enjoys gardening, traveling and skiing.[2] Her husband is chairman of a Quiet Corner chapter of the Tea Party movement.[13]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Anne Dauphinais | 100.0% | ||
| Total votes | 100.0% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Anne Dauphinais | 5,592 | 60.3% | |
| Democratic | Christine Rosati Randall | 3,677 | 39.7% | |
| Total votes | 9,269 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Anne Dauphinais | 4,744 | 61.3% | |
| Democratic | Christine Rosati Randall | 2,998 | 38.7% | |
| Total votes | 7,742 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Anne Dauphinais | 6,545 | 60.2% | |
| Democratic | Christine Rosati Randall | 4,320 | 39.8% | |
| Total votes | 10,865 | 100%[3] | ||
References
edit- ^ a b c Penney, John (8 November 2016). "Dauphinais upsets incumbent Randall in 44th District". The Norwich Bulletin. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ a b c "About". Connecticut House GOP: State Representative Anne Dauphinais. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Anne Dauphinais". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ Penney, John (6 November 2018). "44th House District: Dauphinais defeats Randall again". The Norwich Bulletin. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ a b c Carlesso, Jenna (5 August 2019). "Republican lawmakers ask health commissioner not to offer opinion on vaccine exemption repeal". The CT Mirror. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ Pazniokas, Mark (2 September 2020). "CT GOP breaks with Lamont over COVID powers". The CT Mirror. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Johnson, Kristen (3 September 2020). "After Republican Pressure, Democrats Call Last Minute Meeting Over Emergency Orders". NBC Connecticut. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ Pazniokas, Mark (3 September 2020). "Leaders will vote, if only for the political show, on extending Lamont's emergency powers". The CT Mirror. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Leonard, Nicole (19 February 2020). "Hearing On Religious Vaccine Exemption Draws Hundreds To Testify". Connecticut Public Radio. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ Haigh, Susan (15 April 2019). "Connecticut lawmakers debate over state's vaccine requirements, exemptions". The Westerly Sun. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ Altimari, Daniela (16 March 2021). "Hundreds rally at state Capitol as COVID-19 pandemic opens up new front for anti-vaccine activists in Connecticut". The Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "State Representative District 44". The Arc Connecticut. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Altimari, Daniela (January 21, 2018). "In A Conservative Corner Of Connecticut, Enduring Support For Trump". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 2018-01-19. Retrieved 2021-08-25.